Fogoso passed away

International dressage has just lost one of its most iconic Lusitanos: Fogoso, who made breed history at the Tokyo Olympics under Portuguese rider Rodrigo Torres, has died.

Bred at Coudelaria Torres Vaz Freire—Rodrigo Torres’s family stud—Fogoso was the son of Rico and Amélia (by Raja). Trained to Grand Prix level by his rider, the grey stallion burst onto the elite scene in 2019, the year he became Portuguese Champion and helped Portugal win the Nations Cup at Hickstead.

However, it was in Tokyo in 2021 that the pair truly made history. After qualifying for the individual final, Rodrigo Torres and Fogoso delivered a standout freestyle performance, notably set to music inspired by Pink Floyd. Scoring 78.943%, they finished 16th in the Kür; in doing so, Fogoso achieved the best result ever recorded by a Lusitano in an Olympic dressage event. Their subsequent career highlights included the 2022 World Cup Final and appearances at Aachen, before a new chapter began to take shape.

From 2023, Fogoso competed under the Brazilian flag and was entrusted to Renderson Oliveira. The rider based himself in Portugal to prepare with the horse for the Santiago Pan American Games and, ultimately, the Paris Games. The pair went on to win team silver at the 2023 Pan American Games and finished fifth in the freestyle. After a long break, Fogoso returned to international competition in 2024, before his final CDI—in Neumünster in February 2025—brought his international career to a close.

Fogoso was 16 years old.

crédit photo : FEI/Shannon Brinkman